Extract from "The North China Daily News" of March 11, 1936 - Cleaner Hoardings. Shanghai, March 11, 1936. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-4-3821 (0466).

Although the local authorities exercice a degree of control and censorship over the caracter of the advertisement hoardings, there is a feeling that, in the interest of good taste, the scrutinity shoud be more strict. Some of the baltant advertisements on hoardings lining Shanghai streets and especially those advertising remedies for various diseases and specifics for rejuvenation are not only crude and vulgar but offensive to public morals, and are calculated to make the married man wonder whether they should be exhibited in the sight of his children, although the context may be in Chinese. It is understood that this form of advertisement has to be graphic and crude in conception to impress the public, and art along these lines has been successfully used in health propaganda and other campaign to cary the message home to people of a lower standard of intelligence, but the moral side of it gives cause for perturbation. One particularly offensive hoarding is to be seen in avenue Edward VII and refers in large-type English characters to a subject over and advertising space the size of two house fronts to appeal to perhaps the largest traffic stream passing along any local thoroughfares. A little cleaning up would be useful and healthy.  

Extract from "The North China Daily News" of March 26, 1938 - Our Signboards, A Repulsive Example. Shanghai, March 26, 1938. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-4-3821 (0464).

To the Editor of the North china Daily News. Sir, May I, through the courtesy of your columns call the attention of the proper authorities to the fantastic hoarding just completed opposite the Race Course on Bubbling Well Road, near the Loongfei Gate?

Is it really necessary to show the "Chinese Dracula" in all its hideousness in a main thoroughfares in this already over-congested city of ours? Under present conditions there is little enough open space in town and Shanghai younger population - those that cannot afford gardens - must make the most of the roads to have a breath of air, and I am certain that no parent would relish the idea of his child suddenly being faced with a lifeless figure with green fingers dangling out of over-large sleeves swaying with the wind. A more repulsive sight I have not seen!

If the writer remembers correctly it was only a year ago that a young child confronting a similarly frightening advertisement around the same spot, suddenly took sick and died within three days. To the ordinary Shanghai resident life is unpleasant enough these days and I send in this letter with the hope that residents using that thoroughfare may be spare the sight of the advertisement which certainly does not give the written any pleasure.

Extract from "The North China Daily News" of March 27, 1938 - Our Signboards, Plea to the City Fathers. Shanghai, March 27, 1938. Source: SMA (SMC), U1-4-3821 (0465).

To the Editor of the North China Daily News - Sir, I fully endorse the letter of A.L. eappearing in your paper yesterday and do hope that the proper authorities will see to this matter and have "the lifeless figure with green flasay eyes and claw-like fingers dangling out of the overlarge sleeves, swaying with the wind" removed at once. It is hopeless to wait for the owners of such an ugly advertisement to remove it themselves. For it is evident that they have not the slightest idea about the welfare of the public, especially of children, by designing such a hideous sign, and putting it on the very spot where an innocent child was, a year ago, "killed" by also a frightful advertisement. 
I do, however, wish that the intended owners would wake to their senses by removing the above "nightmare" or substituting it with a less ugly one, or if it is not possible, with a beautiful one. I am prepared to pay a little, say one dollar, for the damage which might be caused to the owners on box-returns. If they fail, I fear they will, I hope our City Fathers will wake to their duties ot make some remedy. I appeal to our City Fathers because I believe they, as we too, must have enough nerve-cracking experiences in the last few months. How about you, dear Editor? 
(Signed) Y.L.. Shanghai, March 25.